1To John Adams from James Swan, 4 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
By a resolve of Congress the 18th of Oct. last, I perceive the Sufferers by fire and Seizures, occasion’d by the Enemy, are invited to lay their loss before them. For that reason I now trouble you, as one of the Committee. You are doubtless acquainted with the General damage from the fire, which happen’d last May, in the Town dock of Boston, caused by Genl. Gage’s 47s. or Tarring and...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 12 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
It will give you much satisfaction to know, the Success that has attended an essay of Boston Salted Beef and pork. I ordered a barrel of each sort of these articles to be sent me last December. They were Ship’d from Boston to Rochelle, from thence to Havre and from Havre here. All these Shipments and reShipments took up about nine months, when the Commissaries named by the Minister of Marine,...
3[To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 5 October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[[5 Oct. 1788 . Recorded in SJL Index. Not found. This letter presumably concerned the proposals made by Swan and Samuel Blackden to supply the City of Paris with flour and wheat from America, in view of the threatened scarcity caused by the great hail storm and by crop shortages in the Mediterranean basin. These proposals, dated 22 Sep. 1788, and correspondence concerning them are in Archives...
4To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 2 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris , “ Rue de Montmorency No. 63 ,” 2 June 1791 . The proposals described in his of 8 [i.e., 3] Oct. to exchange provisions for the American debt were defeated by the opposition of Fleurieu and by the propositions of Schweizer, Jeanneret & Co. of Paris “for some Genoese Capitalists, who proposed to pay the debt in money at once.” On that day the Assembly decreed that after 1 Jan. 1791...
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 7 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor of your Excellencie’s favor of the 19th. Ulto. and am fully satisfied as to the Consular business, that it is best for me to wait the establishment of the new Constitution. I think it probable I shall renounce the idea, as I certainly will not go to Marseilles, and my family never would content themselves at Honfleur. With respect to the Contract for Beef &c. the Marqs. la...
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 3 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having, Sir, by some considerable losses become indebted several thousand pounds, and money being so very scarce in America, my first object has been, since my arrival in Europe, to raise as much money as should discharge those debts, by depositing a certain quantity of Certificates, of the Debt of the United States, in order to prevent my being obliged to Sacrifice 50/ of my families Estate,...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 31 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Havre, 31 Jan. 1788 . Apologizes for not sooner paying the “respect which I owe you as a Gentleman … as the Representative of the Sovereignty of my country”; arrived in last packet; his wife and children will follow him in May or June; until their arrival, will stay around Le Havre, Rouen, and Caen attending to business matters. Encloses some thoughts “put together in much haste at the...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 27 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance, Sir, with your request, I present you the following calculations, at which I am certain New England beef can be supplied delivered at Havre; in doing which I may be exposing facts, which may opperate to the detriment of private Adventurers; but as to that I am indifferent, provided I meet your views in Serving the general good. Common fresh beef for the British army and navy at...
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 16 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 16 Mch. 1791. Requested by Littlepage to forward enclosed letter “by a safe opportunity,” he has delivered it to a passenger in a Philadelphia ship and hopes it arrives “in Season.” RC ( DNA : RG 59 , MLR ); endorsed by TJ as received 21 June 1791 and so recorded in SJL . Enclosure: Littlepage to TJ, 5 Mch. 1791 .
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 10 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me Sir, to enclose you a Copy of the Propositions for the woods, which I mean to present to the Minister of Marine, as soon as I can get a line to him from the Marqs. La fayette, or Vaudreüil and to pray, that you would mention the matter to Comte Luzerne on the first occasion you shall find. In fact there is nothing wanted but an Essay at present, unless they should chuse to make a...
11To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 7 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing the Marquis de la Fayette two days since, with proposals for furnishing a quantity of Salt beef, Pork and Butter, and live Sheep and Oxen for the use of the Kings Army and Navy in Europe, and the Islands. The present is only to request that so far as you shall find it for the advantage of America, you would promote the Contract. I am sure that to reflect upon the...
12To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 3 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In the month of March last, I closed with the Minister of Marine, the Contract for Green Oak Timber, after having made the essay at Brest, which I had permission to make, before your departure from hence. It was found of an excellent quality, and very proper for the King’s Service; and they being in want of Knees more than of streight timber, I fortunatly am permitted to make two thirds of the...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 25 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Having settled my Accots. with the Government here, and being declared Crediter of more than Two Millions of Livres—as well as recognized a faithfull & intelligent Agent , I presume to present myself to the Executive of the United States for the place of Consul General here. May I hope for your influence in my favor?—The acquaintance I have, with many of the administrators in Government—in the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Swan, 1 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honour of receiving your Letter of the 9th. Ulto. and thank you for the politenesses expressed in it for Mrs. Swan and myself. It shall be our wish to endeavor always to merit them; and I hope to have the happiness of presenting her to you sometime in the approaching Summer. Before my departure and it has been so for two years, my friends General Knox, Mr. King and many others...
15Swan’s Proposals for Supplying American Beef, &c. to the French Government, 19 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 19 July 1788 . “ Jam’s. Swan de Boston En faveur d’une association dans les Etats-Unis de l’Amérique ,” submits proposals for furnishing to the government of France a quantity of salt beef and pork, livestock, and butter from America for the troops and vessels of the king, in the colonies in America as well as in Europe as follows: Ten to forty, or fifty, thousand barrels of beef of a...
16To James Madison from James Swan, 10 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recommend to you personally & to the Delegates from your state in general, the cause of Mrs. De Neufville, widow of the deceased Mr. John De Neufville, Mercht at Amsterdam. He had for a long time before his death been in very, very narrow circumstances, caused by the ruin he brought on himself by a blind zeal for the support of the liberty & independence of this Country. His widow is totally...
17To James Madison from James Swan, [25 June] 1801 (Madison Papers)
… I had the honor of writing you by Mr. Pichon, requesting your protection in my being named to the Council Generalship in France. Now that you are Secretary of State, I may do it, with more direct effect. If Mr. Skipwith wishes to be re-named, and the President consents, I withdraw all pretensions. Indeed I will stand in the way of no one, unless you should think I could serve the interest of...
18To James Madison from James Swan, 5 May 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 May 1804, Paris. “On the 19th. prairial in the 10th. french year, or 8 June 1802, I got a final Settlement with the french Government of all my private & Company claims. I delivered one or two Copies of the certificate of that Settlement to Mr Livingston our minister here, praying that he would forward it to you, to show Government, how unjustly I had been imprisoned. “The balance certified...
19To James Madison from James Swan, 22 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to write you this petition, as a Second request, that You give instructions to the person You may name as Minister to the French Court, that he demand of this Government, that liberty of which I have been unjustly deprived since the 28 July 1808; liberty which the french subjects in like cases, enjoy in the United States. Not knowing what could prevent me receiving on my first...
20Enclosure: James Swan to William Short, 14 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your desire in your Letter of the 9th. Inst., I have endeavoured all in my power to persuade Messrs. Sweizer Jeanneret & Co., from the pursuit of their plan, & have communicated your Letter to them, in which it appears you do not consider yourself as authorized to accept it, but all without effect—for I find they have determin’d to raise, as they say, every obstacle which can...
21Enclosure: James Swan to William Short, 12 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Fearing that my Letter of this date by the way of Antwerp may have missed, I shall only beg leave to trouble you with one or two points in it essential for you to know. I acquainted you, how I was inform’d, that a M. Jubert had made proposals to pay the whole entirely, & instantly: but I can find no foundation for it, either in the Committee of Finances or of Liquidation, that is, there has...
22Enclosure: James Swan to William Short, 12 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
To mine of the 27th. Novr. & 5th. Inst. I refer. I have nothing at present to trouble you with, only a Statement how things stand here concerning the debt. M. Morris & I were in dispute with the Bankers (with whom you have had some conversations here,) about their gratifications, they wishing with their Fathers & Cousins in Paris & Amstm. to absorb all. He having parted Wednesday morning for...
23To George Washington from James Swan, 27 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Major Swan’s most respectfull Compliments to Genl Washington: And intending to set off to morrow on his journey to Boston, has sent his servant with this Card of leave, and to request the honor of the General & his Lady’s Commands. Would have waited upon them in person, but some business & urgent causes of departure to morrow, prevents him. Requests the favor of the General’s accepting a Copy...
24To George Washington from James Swan, 12 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having finish’d the business with which I was charg’d by France, and being perfectly free & independent, I have determin’d to offer myself to your Excellency. The late Treaty you have concluded with Spain, may create a Commission of Consul General in that Kingdom, like that which Mr De Viart, holds here under His Catholic Majesty. If you shall think proper to appoint me, I engage to execute...
25To George Washington from James Swan, 5 June 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Swan, 5 June 1788. On 18 Aug. GW wrote Swan : “I have received your favor of the 5th of June from Havre de Grace.”
26Enclosure: Propositions pour fournir une certaine quantité de Bois de construction…, 10 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Propositions pour fournir une certaine quantité de Bois de construction en Chêne-vert, cèdre et Cyprès; des Courbes de Chêne vert, et des grandes Chevilles, en bois de Carouge ou l’acacia de l’Amérique, à l’usage de la Marine pour Sa Majesté à Brest, Toulon, Rochfort et Cherbourg. Le Souscrivant, au nom d’une Compagnie aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique, conviendra de fournir chaque année pendant six...